Organisers of Beeston Street Art are aiming to put together Beeston’s very own light night event this Autumn called #alightinBeeston to lift everyone’s mood and highlight Beeston’s creativity and vibrancy.
In association with The Beeston and District Civic Society, the Beeston Street Art group on Facebook have organised over 30 art attractions in Beeston, Nottingham since 2018. These colourful artworks have brought much joy during recent dark times and breathed life into our community and high street.
When the clocks change this autumn and we lose our daylight again, they would like to bring an extra lift and another type of art attraction to the town – a light night event called #alightinBeeston.
They would also like to buy a permanent neon style light installation to be hung by Broxtowe Council and also host a light night event incorporating projecting community made creative films on the building facing the trams and buses’ route through Beeston town.
Local News Editor Dani caught up with organiser Jeanie Barton to chat about the event:
Who came up with the idea of the Beeston Light Night?
Jeanie: My colleague, drummer Ian Beestin came up with the phrase Alight in Beeston, when I made it a hash tag (#alightinBeeston) I realised it could be read both ways – having visited Nottingham Light Night and organised Beeston Street Art (40 artworks so far), I thought hosting a light night as an extension of our existing project and calling it that would be cool.
When are you hoping to hold the event?
Jeanie: It depends on funds but this Autumn/winter ideally – as soon as we can afford it!
What will be taking place on the day/s?
Jeanie: We want to be able to afford one permanent light artwork on the wall facing the Interchange and expand on that for the launch with a projection wall plus we hope to attract local light artists to display temporary installation works around the town centre, in the square and in Beeston Parish Churchyard.
Again, it depends on funds – we are asking for corporate sponsors now!
Have you got a design for the permanent neon sign?
Jeanie: We have a proposed design by a local light artist, which is a quote by DH Lawrence about travel but we’re not 100% sure yet, stay tuned!
How much are you aiming to raise?
Jeanie: We have just over £1000 thanks to a crowdfund and a donation from C P Walker and son. We need to reach at least £3k to do anything this year. The more we raise the more we can do – for reference the 2020 Nottingham Light Night cost in excess of £100k so we are ambitious yet realistic about what we can achieve here.
Jeanie said, “I hope you will support this new attraction idea, which will be free for everyone to enjoy – if you just donate the cost of a coffee each, we can bring another much needed creative boost to Beeston.”
To get involved please contact [email protected].
To donate towards the project please visit: www.crowdfunder.co.uk/alightinbeeston-a-light-night-event-for-beeston
You can also join ‘A Light Night in Beeston’ Facebook group for updates.
Photo taken at Nottingham Light Night 2020 by Mark Kidsley.